I was very sympathetic with world leaders burdened with resolving conflicts between nations. When my three children were young, in most days it was hard to keep my house from becoming a war zone. It got worse as they grew older. Three years ago, Zack, then 16, couldn’t make it through a day without playing tricks on his sisters, Alex and Taryn, then 11 and 9.
My husband and I tried to understand his adolescent moodiness. We begged, reasoned, punished, and left heartfelt notes on his bed about how his behavior was hurting our family. His response was a shrug and “I say it because it’s true”.
I even tried telling the girls to fight back. But it was a bad idea. Now I had three kids at war. At wit’s end, I poured my heart out to my sister in an e-mail. She wrote back, “Don’t e-mail me. E-mail him.”
Our son was online every day, mailing and instantly messaging his friends. So what if I was within shouting distance? Maybe he would actually hear me this way. There’d be no yelling or door slamming（猛然关闭）. Zack wouldn’t feel under attack. And with a few simple keystrokes, he could respond. Or not. Zack didn’t reply for days. When he finally did, his entire message was four words. I expected the worst, but then smiled when I read them, ”You are right. I’m sorry.” The kids still fought, of course, but Zack scaled back the abuse (恶习). Best of all, I now have an effective way to communicate with not one but three easily annoyed teens. They don’t tune me out as much. They don’t like to listen to me nag (唠叨) .Or as Alex says, “You’re so much nicer online.”
All I know is that the house is quiet, and we’re talking. In fact, Taryn just instantly messaged me from upstairs. It’s time to take her to softball practice.
1.The purpose of this passage is to tell us _________ .
A. how to solve family problems
B. how a mother shows her love to her children
C. how to treat kids in a more sensible way
D. the value of understanding between parents and children
2.By the first sentence of the passage, the author really means to be_______.
A.humourous B.sympathetic C.serious D.inspiring
3.How did Zack react when the author first tried to stop his bad behavior？
A. He was annoyed and got worse.
B. He talked back to the author.
C. He felt sorry and changed.
D. He was persuaded and acted politely.
4.Zack stopped fighting with his sisters because _________ .
A. his mother learned how to mail him
B. his mother stopped yelling and nagging
C. his sisters learned to instantly message him
D. his mother had more friendly communications with him online
Several years ago, while attending a communication course, I experienced a most unusual process. The instructor asked us to list in our past that we felt of, regretted, or incomplete about and read our lists aloud.
This seemed like a very 38 process, but there’ s always some soul in the crowd who will volunteer. The instructor then that we find ways to people, or take some action to right any wrong doings. I was seriously wondering how this could ever my communication.
Then the man next to me raised his hand and volunteered this story: “Making my , I remembered an incident from high school. I grew up in a small town. There was a Sheriff of us kids liked. One night, my two buddies and I decided to play a on him.
After drinking a few beers, we climbed the tall water tank in the middle of the town, and wrote on the tank in bright red paint: Sheriff Brown is a s.o.b.(畜生). The next day, almost the whole town saw our glorious . Within two hours, Sheriff Brown had us in his office. My friends told the truth but I lied. No one found out.”
“Nearly 20 years later, Sheriff Brown’s name on my list. I didn’t even know if he was still . Last weekend, I dialed the information in my hometown and found there was a Roger Brown still listed. I tried his number. After a few , I heard, “Hello?” I said, “Sheriff Brown?” Paused. “Yes.” “Well, this is Jimmy Calkins.”
“And I want you to know that I did it.” Paused. “I knew it!” he yelled back. We had a good laugh and a discussion. His closing words were: “Jimmy, I always felt bad for you your buddies got it off their chest, but you were carrying it all these years. I want to thank you for calling me...for your sake.”
Jimmy inspired me to all 101 items on my list within two years, and I always remember what I learned from the course: It’s never too late to the past wrongdoings.
1.A. something B. anything C. somebody D. anybody
2.A. ashamed B. afraid C. sure D. proud
3.A. private B. secret C. interesting D. funny
4.A. foolish B. polite C. simple D. brave
5.A. expected B. suggested C. ordered D. demanded
6.A．connect withB．depend on C．make apologise toD．get along with
7.A．improveB．continueC．realize D．keep
8.A．notesB．listC．planD．stories
9.A．anyB．mostC．noneD．all
10.A．partB．gameC．trickD．record
11.A. view B. sign C. attention D. remark
12.A. also B. even C. still D. ever
13.A. appears B. considers C. presents D. remembers
14.A. angry B. happy C. doubtful D. alive
15.A. words B. rings C. repeats D. calls
16.A. cold B. plain C. nervous D. lively
17.A. in case B. so long as C. unless D. because
18.A. around B. out C. on D. away
19.A. build up B. make up C. clear up D. give up
20.A. regret B. forgive C. right D. punish
---- Am I bothering you, Black?
---- No. ______ , I like you to be with me.
A. On the other hand B. In a word
C. For one thing D. On the contrary
_____is our belief that improvements in health care will lead to a stronger , more prosperous economy.
A. As B. It C. This D. That
The manager_____ the workers how to improve the program since 9 a.m.
A. has told B.is telling C.has been telling D.will have told
______ I always felt I would pass the exam, I never thought I would get an A.
A. While B. Once C. If D. Until
